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99 Ways to Influence Change, #86: Assign responsibility

Change doesn’t spontaneously happen on its own. If you want something to change, it must have someone’s name attached. The people who must take on the change, or incorporate it into their job, must know that it is theirs to do so. To influence change, assign responsibility.

The first reason to assign responsibility is to make sure it gets done. Give people responsibility for tasks and decisions. Put their initials in the meeting minutes next to the things they need to do. Also, encourage people to take responsibility for their own responses, behaviors, and attitudes regarding the change.

Another purpose of assigning responsibility is to pass on ownership of the project. When people are responsible for a piece of the change, they feel more in control of their change experience. And more control means less resistance to the change itself. Let people know that the change is not happening to them, but with their own power.

Last, you can’t do everything yourself to implement the change. Delegate, and allow people the authority to get things done and move the project forward.